S&C guys (and girls maybe) did a very good job this year. with Heenan and White soon to be back, fingers crossed we may have all our main Squad, bar JHW, available for the end of the season

GUINNESS PRO12 clash with Edinburgh at the Sportsground (kick off 19:35), Connacht Coach Pat Lam confirmed that lock Quinn Roux will remain on loan with Connacht until at least the end of the 2014/15 season.
Since his arrival in pre-season, the 24-year-old South African has played in 13 games for Connacht, starting in all but one, and has been instrumental in the province's unbeaten home record.

"We are pleased to say we have extended Quinn Roux's deal until the end of the season which is great", said Lam. He has very much impressed us. He has impressed everyone since he arrived here - the boys welcomed him, he really enjoys it, and when you tie those factors together, we see the result."

Meanwhile, outhalf Craig Ronaldson will follow return-to-play protocols for the concussion he sustained while scoring the 42nd minute try against Munster on New Year's Day. The medical staff will monitor the progress of the 24-year-old ahead of Thursday's team announcement.

Forwards Aly Muldowney and Tom McCartney were absent from training yesterday with a chest infection and stomach bug respectively but the pair are expected to be available for the visit of Edinburgh.

There was more good news for the squad with the return to training of prop Ronan Loughney and veteran second row Michael Swift at the Sportsground yesterday.

And it was also confirmed that the ankle rehab for lock Mick Kearney is progressing well and that he is expected to re-join full training next week ahead of the Challenge Cup clash with Exeter.

The Connacht team to face Edinburgh will be named on Thursday at 12 noon.

Connacht v Edinburgh
The Sportsground, 7:35pm.
Referee: Leighton Hodges

Squad Update ahead of Munster game
30th December 2014

Ahead of the sold out New Year’s Day clash between Connacht and Munster at the Sportsground, Pat Lam’s men were back to work on Sunday in advance of the arrival of their provincial rivals to Galway on Thursday (kick off 5pm).

Following the 13 – 10 defeat to Ulster in Belfast on Friday night, there were injury concerns around late withdrawals Ronan Loughney and Quinn Roux. Galway man Loughney, who aggravated his back in training last week, remains a doubt for this week’s clash while second row Roux is on track for a return after symptoms from the ankle injury sustained in the Friday night warmup improved.

The province’s most capped player Michael Swift has been entered in to the return-to-play programme for a concussion he suffered during last week’s training session. It is expected that the second row veteran will be out of action for 2 – 3 weeks.

Scrum half Ian Porter is also facing a similar spell on the sidelines as he continues rehab on a mid-foot sprain.

Meanwhile, back row forward Eoin McKeon, who missed the last round due to a knee sprain, returned to full training yesterday and is available for selection this week.

Similarly, centurion Fionn Carr, who completed the return-to-play protocols for concussion, resumed full training this week and is now available to the coaching staff.

Mick Kearney (ankle) and Tiernan O’Halloran (knee) both commenced running on Monday but the duo are another 2 – 3 weeks away from any match action.

Nice to see the list above becoming thin


Squad Update ahead of Ulster game

22nd December 2014

Following last week’s defeat away to defending PRO12 champions Leinster, the Connacht squad returned to training in Galway today ahead of their St. Stephens Day clash with Ulster at the Kingspan Stadium on Friday night.

The medical team reported that back row forward Eoin McKeon suffered a ligament sprain to his knee during the encounter at the RDS. The 23-year-old Galway man will be monitored this week ahead of the team announcement on Wednesday.

Connacht centurion Fionn Carr remains unavailable as he continues to follow the return-to-play protocols for a concussion sustained in the Challenge Cup clash with Bayonne.

Galway-born wing Tiernan O’Halloran had to undergo knee scope surgery last week but the reports are positive and the 23-year-old is expected to be ready to play in 3 – 4 weeks.

Meanwhile, Andrew Browne is back training and available for selection after recovering from the knee injury that kept him out of action for the past three weeks.

The Connacht team to face Ulster will be named on Wednesday 24th December at 12 noon.

Overall situation above (many more good news and come-backs, important for the games coming until the 15th of January )



Squad Update ahead of Leinster game

15th December 2014

Following Saturday’s 29-27 win away to Bayonne in round 4 of the European Challenge Cup, the Connacht team returned to Galway on Sunday night and joined the squad for training this morning as attention turns to the GUINNESS PRO12 and the game away to defending champions Leinster on Friday night.

In terms of casualties arising from the game in France, wing Fionn Carr was removed from the field just four minutes in after taking a knock to the head. The 28-year-old received 8 stitches and is required to go through the standard return-to-play protocols for concussion this week.

The medical team has also confirmed that lock Mick Kearney sustained a high ankle sprain in the round 3 clash with Bayonne at the Sportsground. The 23-year-old is looking at 3 – 4 weeks on the side lines.

Meanwhile, Galway man Andrew Browne is also unavailable for this week’s derby as he continues to nurse a knee injury.

But there is positive news as well with scrum half Ian Porter and prop JP Cooney both returning to full training and making themselves available to Head Coach Pat Lam ahead of the busy period of inter-pro fixtures.

The medical team also reported that Jason Harris-Wright underwent successful ACL repair surgery at the weekend. The 26-year-old hooker will now face up to six months of rehab.

The Connacht team to face Leinster will be named at noon on Thursday.

Ok, I haven't see the Squad uptade for Browne and Niyi, it's read now...And the overall uptade Edited

sea_point wrote: always worries me this sort of horse-trading now will undermine our ability to hold of Leinster interest in our crown jewel players later on...

I'm usually very paranoid about IRFU help/interference/undermining (delete to taste) but I doubt when Henshaw is looking at a new contract in 12 months time what happened as regards John Cooney a year previously will matter 2 whits to him, to the branch, to the union, or to any of his many suitors.

.

they let him come to us because they had 3 or 4 locks ahead of him in the squad, very different to any players that would be going the other way.

OldSchool wrote: Anybody know if Quinn Roux will be playing for Connacht in 2015? I've heard that his loan deal is up in December. Are Connacht looking to sign him?

Linley McKenzie (Galway Ad/Irish Times) was saying in the Craggy Island Podcast [ t.co/KkMB4srjlV ] that Connacht were looking to extend the loan deals of our Leinster loanees..


Hopefully we can, but always worries me this sort of horse-trading now will undermine our ability to hold of Leinster interest in our crown jewel players later on...

Anybody know if Quinn Roux will be playing for Connacht in 2015? I've heard that his loan deal is up in December. Are Connacht looking to sign him?

It would take some spin from Leinster to make it seem like a good deal for Kearney, he's a regular starter here when fit, he'd be behind three international locks at Leinster, two of whom he cannot compete against physically. Leinster can only offer him the same amount of money as Connacht/Connacht can match an offer from Leinster but they can't continue bidding afterwards, so the tie breaker should be game time.

Obviously want to hold on to Kearney, very important player for us moving forward. I'm sure we'll do all we can to keep him. I'd hope its just the usual toing and froing that is standard with contracts. Having said that I wouldn't be surprised if Leinster were keeping an eye on proceedings. He'd be foolish to go back to Leinster this early once Connacht come up with a reasonable contract offer. In another couple of years I'm sure we will probably lose him but hopefully we can keep hold of him for another season or two.

O'Halloran has another year on his contract but in all honesty if players like Tiernan O'Halloran wants to move on, it mightn't be the worst thing for both parties. We all want to see him coming through but its not happening for him at Connacht even allowing for injuries. If he went elsewhere he might be able to kick-start his career.

Heffernan has made a lot of progress and given the time we've invested in him we should do all we can to keep hold of him but really lads have to get contracts according to their status in the squad.

I don't know the ins and outs of Griffin moving but I'm sure he felt at that stage he needed a change of scenery and he's given it a go. He isn't making huge progress at London Irish but he wouldn't have with us either. I'd imagine he'll be back in Ireland in a couple of years.

I'm not really worried as the money spent on the high profile signings has in general been good business. I think short term and long term for Connacht the lads we have brought in will leave a lasting impact in terms of both the quality and the mentality they bring to the setup.

Hearing rumours that Kearney is not happy with the contract being offered, anyone worried that all the money spent on the high profile signings will cost us some home grown talent. Griffin last year, can't see TOH, Heffo, Kearney sticking around for too long.

NewGuy wrote: Anyone know the story with Sean obrien ???

Rumours he won't be back until the last weeks of the season... Hope the poor guy will have at least one Eagles match under his belt...

Anyone know the story with Sean obrien ???

I'll try to Edit above each week after having posted the uptades.

Squad Update ahead of Bayonne game

02nd December 2014

As the GUINNESS PRO12 take a two week break, attention turns to the European Challenge Cup competition and the arrival of French Top 14 side Bayonne to the Sportsground on Saturday (kick off 5pm).

Following Connacht’s 14-8 win over Scarlets on Saturday night, the province is now sitting in 6th place on the PRO12 league table. The bruising round 9 encounter has left versatile forward Andrew Browne nursing an aggravated knee injury. The Galway man is unlikely to be available to Pat Lam and his coaching team this week.

Browne’s second row partner Quinn Roux sustained a minor ankle sprain at the Sportsground on Saturday and has had his training load modified early this week. However, the 24-year-old South African is hoping to be fighting fit ahead of the team announcement on Friday.

Meanwhile, Robbie Henshaw (hip pointer), Ian Porter (foot sprain), Niyi Adeolokun (ankle sprain) and Tiernan O’Halloran (knee) remain unavailable for selection this week.

Aly Muldowney who missed out on the last two games has been cleared fit to play after observing the appropriate return-to-play concussion protocols.

The Connacht Eagles were also in action at the weekend in round three of their British & Irish Cup campaign. The Connacht Eagles were defeated 17 – 7 away to London Scottish who they had beaten 30 – 27 in the last round at the Sportsground.

Centre Conor Finn touched down for a second half try for the Eagles, which outhalf Miah Nikora converted but the hosts had two converted tries and a penalty to reverse last month’s defeat.

There were no major injury concerns arising from the clash and Nigel Carolan’s men are in action away from home again this Saturday when they travel to take on Welsh side Pontypridd at Sardis Road (kick off 2:30pm).

Connacht v Bayonne
Saturday December 6th
the Sportsground
Kick off 17:00

Pontypridd RFC v Connacht Eagles
Saturday December 6th
Sardis Road
Kick off 14:30